HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Evangelical Free Church began in the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Its roots are deeply planted in the foundational principles of two major historical events. The first was the 16th century Protestant Reformation which changed the religious climate all across Europe. The church had strayed far from a biblical foundation and reform was desperately needed. Three principles of the Reformation laid the foundation for spiritual renewal and the "free church" (free from state control) movement during the next 250 years:

• Sola Scriptura ("only the scriptures") The Scriptures, not the institutional Church, are the primary authority by which people must live and against which truth and error must be judged.
• Sola Gratia ("only by grace") Salvation is by God's grace alone. It is a free gift, not something we can earn or deserve.
• Sola Fides ("only by faith") The gift of salvation and the benefits of being in God's eternal family come only through faith (trust) in Jesus Christ as Savior, not by any good works or religious ceremonies.

The second major historical event was a 19th century grass-roots movement across Europe to break away from established state-controlled churches. A number of issues were troubling the Christians of that day including:

The dominance of the Government over the Church. The relationship between the Church and the State was unhealthy because the State had far more authority over the Church than the Bible. In most places, the State told the Church what to believe and how to worship.

The deadness of the Church. The State church was the church of all citizens whether they were true believers or not. In many churches, the services and ceremonies had become hollow religious experiences with little meaning or purpose.

A grass-roots movement began to return churchgoers to a faith founded on the Scriptures, When people came to know Christ personally as Savior and Lord and studied the Bible, they formed some strong convictions about what was important for local churches:

Church membership of "believers only, but all believers". Church membership was comprised only of people who professed Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and was not to exclude any true believers.

A Biblical basis for belief and Christian living. The question was always "Where stands it written?"

Local church autonomy, the right of local churches to govern themselves.

Baptism and the Lord's Supper were only for those who had personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Active Involvement of every member in the work of the church. The ministry of the Church was for all believers, not just for professional pastors.

Missionary activity to reach people who needed to know the Good News about Jesus. Missionaries were needed to go to other parts of the world.

Believers who affirmed these principles began to develop informal gatherings within the larger State Church. But as these groups started to implement some of these principles, Church authorities pressured them to stop what they were doing or leave the Church. They chose to leave and establish new "free" churches on their own. The "free church" movement was born.

A few years later, immigrants from the Scandinavian countries arrived in the United States and established churches. In 1884, a church was formally begun in Boone, Iowa, by a Swedish group, and at the same time, Norwegian-Danish groups began to meet together in other places. These two groups merged in 1950 to become the Evangelical Free Church of America.

Since then, the EFCA has gone from being a small, ethnic denomination to one that appeals broadly to Americans and Canadians. The EFCA missionary force has grown to over 500 and churches have multiplied. The EFCA has given birth to a magazine, The Evangelical Beacon, and two highly acclaimed universities, Trinity International University (in Deerfield, IL) and Trinity Western University (in British Columbia).

Under the leadership of President William Hamel, the EFCA is continuing to grow in influence as well as size. Because of its strong Biblical foundation and its openness to cooperation with the broad world of evangelical churches and para-church organizations, the EFCA has an increasing influence and leadership role in the evangelical community.

Within the last 100 years, an especially the last 30 years, the Evangelical Free Church of America has grown from a small ethnic-oriented group of churches into one of the fastest growing small denominations in America. Its membership includes people from all walks of life, all ethnic groups and almost all denominational backgrounds. They are joined together with one commitment- to multiply healthy churches among all the people of the world.

DISTINCTIVES

1. The Evangelical Free Church of America is inclusive not exclusive.

Opportunities in the local church for fellowship and ministry are based solely on one's personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and trusting him alone for salvation. While membership requires a commitment to sound doctrine as expressed in our Statement of Faith, people are not excluded if they do not agree on every fine point of doctrine.

2. The Evangelical Free Church of America is evangelical but not separatistic.

The EFCA has a deep commitment to the authority of God's Word, but we do not draw battle lines over minor points. Nor do we make minor issues of doctrine a test for membership in the local church. We are evangelical. We believe in separated living and personal holiness, but we are not separatistic.

3. The Evangelical Free Church is ecumenical in spirit though not in structure.

We believe in the spiritual unity of the Church though not necessarily in structural union. We join with other Christians and other denominations of like faith in common goals and ministries to accomplish the Great Commandment (Mark 12:29-31) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

4. The Evangelical Free Church of America believes in freedom with responsibility and accountability.

We believe in Christian freedom, but freedom has its limits. Responsible Christians do not abuse freedom. The EFCA desires to preserve our freedom in Christ. We encourage our people to be responsible, godly, men women and young people who desire to live under the control of the Holy Spirit, in obedience to the principles and precepts of God's Word, the Bible.

5. The Evangelical Free Church of America believes in both the rational and relational dimensions of Christianity.

We believe it is essential to have solid biblical content in our doctrinal understanding of faith, but it is equally important to have a dynamic, vital relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son and to live by the power of the Holy Spirit.

6. The Evangelical Free Church of America affirms the right of each local church to govern its own affairs.

"Congregational in government" means that each local church governs its own affairs. Within the local church, the highest human authority rests in the congregation.

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE EFCA

The EFCA movement exists to glorify God by multiplying healthy churches among all people groups.

The EFCA mission statement reflects our commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ through local churches.

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…" Matthew 28:19